Not A Diabetic? Think Again !
Everybody knows that diabetes means an increase in sugar. Let us try to understand deeply how and why someone gets diabetes.
How is Diabetes caused?
Diabetes is caused when there is too much sugar or glucose in the body. A body is designed to process the sugar we eat so that it gets into ourselves and provides us with energy. We need energy for everything we do, from breathing to sleeping to running. When we eat food, the food is broken down by our stomach and intestine into glucose, this glucose is then absorbed and enters the bloodstream so that it can go to all the cells of the body. For the glucose to be absorbed, we need insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and insulin is what makes the sugar enter us.
Insulin is the key that opens the door for glucose to enter and give us energy. If you have diabetes, either your body is not making enough insulin or the body is not able to use the insulin properly. As a result, you get too much sugar that stays in the blood and causes a whole lot of problems.
Types of Diabetes
There are two types of diabetes known as type 1 and type 2.
In type 1 diabetes, your body produces little or no insulin and the only treatment taken is insulin. It is common in children and young adults.
Type 2 diabetes is more common. Your body is not able to use insulin correctly, this is also called insulin resistance. In India, increased abdominal fat and genetic tendency increases the chance of having diabetes 2, especially when there’s a family history of the disease.
In both these cases, your glucose increases and if it is not controlled, it can lead to serious medical problems.
If one of the parents is diabetic, you have a twenty percent chance of getting diabetes but if both your parents are diabetic, then that increases your chance 50%.
Symptoms
Most people do not even know the fact that they have diabetes. So what are the early signs that you have to look out for?
- Frequent urination. As the body tries to remove the extra glucose, you end up urinating more. And as you urinate more, you feel more dehydrated resulting in increased thirst.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Increased hunger
- Fatigue, numbness in the hands or feet and slow healing wounds
- Women having family history of diabetes may develop it during pregnancy
Early diagnosis and treatment are the keys to prevent some of the problems that you might face with diabetes. A lot of people don’t go to the doctor because they are scared of what the doctor might tell them. But, if you have a family history of diabetes or any of the signs that we discussed, please go to your doctor and get yourself checked.
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Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information.
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